The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld Thursday the conviction of a Kauai man accused of helping to beat and rob a man in Lihue.

Kekoa Krueger, 35, of Hanapepe, was convicted of second-degree robbery and sentenced to 10 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of six years and eight months incarceration for being a repeat offender.

On April 6, 2011, at around 3 a.m., in an area near the Nawiliwili Tavern, co-defendant Lurguial Counts, 37, of Kapaa, chased a visitor from Germany, shoved him head-first into the edge of a heavy wooden planter, beat him and took his wallet. Krueger held the victim down.

Afterward, Krueger and Counts shared the money and other proceeds found in the wallet. The emptied wallet and some contents were later found by police in a nearby trash can.

Counts pled no contest to second-degree robbery and theft and was also sentenced to 10 years in prison.

A third individual, charged as an accomplice, cooperated at trial and received immunity from prosecution.